By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
A tough day for Raton basketball finished off with a squeaker of a game as the Raton varsity boys pulled one out in the final seconds of the game over the Peñasco Panthers Saturday evening in Tiger Gym.
The JV girls in a pickup game started the day off with a scrappy game where it started off with Peñasco taking a quick and early lead that would continue to grow as the game wore on. The JV girls had the most trouble in the first and third quarters as coaches played the different sets of girls to only four points, two in each quarter.
Peñasco 9 10 12 15 46
Raton 2 12 2 13 29
The JV boys took to the court and played a much closer game with both teams scoring close to the same score in each quarter until later in the game when Peñasco managed to pull ahead just enough to win the game by six. The game was fast paced and very defensive and could have easily gone either way had more free throws been made by either team. Peñasco ended the game making two of 16 free throw attempts while Raton made two of 12 attempts at the line. Thats enough points for either team to have won the game or Peñasco to win even bigger than the six they did win by.
Peñasco 10 4 9 14 35
Raton 11 2 5 11 29
The varsity Lady Tigers took to the court next and it was a close game until about half way through the first quarter when the Lady Panthers picked it up with a little pressure and put the ball in the bucket to extend their lead. Peñasco outscored Raton in the first two quarters by double points to create a comfortable lead and coast the rest of the game.
Peñasco 16 22 11 13 64
Raton 8 10 12 14 44
Peñasco High Point
Adrianna Tafoya 16 2 of 3 free throws
Carly Gonzales 13 1 of 2 free throws
Alaska Lopez 16 2 of 2 free throws 4 3-pointers
Raton High Point
Estrella Vargas 14 4 of 8 free throws
Sofia Maddaleni 12 2 of 5 free throws
Andie Ortega 9 3 3-pointers
The varsity boys finished out the night of basketball with a barn burner of a game as the both teams played a strong defensive game and kept the score close throughout the game with neither team being more than eight points ahead of the other the entire game. Both teams were about 50% at the free throw line which once again could have made a big difference in the score.
As the game neared the end of the fourth quarter the lead changed a couple of times and was tied in the last couple of minutes before Raton managed to gain the advantage with a couple of free throws by Jonathan Cabriales. He was then fouled again and sunk won to force the Panthers into a three point shot to tie and four points to win with only six seconds on the clock. Raton hung in there with a tough defensive stand and pulled it out when a long shot fell way off its mark.
Peñasco 8 13 17 6 43
Raton 14 10 8 14 46
Peñasco High Point
Matt Lopez 16 3 of 6 free throws
Thomas Gonzales 8
Free throws 5 of 10 free throw attempts
Raton High Point
Jonathan Cabriales 18 7 of 10 free throws
Austin Jones 9 1 of 6 free throws
Free throws 9 of 18 attempts